"Gay HS" reality check

[Asher]

Originally posted by orange
But that IS a good point. Should white kids in the city say that they feel unsafe and that they're in the minority and that the other kids (blacks latinos whatever) assault them or give them a bad time and get a school to themselves?

They would be allowed into Harvey Milk -- they don't discriminate based on sexuality, believe it or not.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Asher


So you admit they are writeoffs then, contrary to what you said before. Disgusting.


Temporary solution? Absolutely! Have you not heard the success stories of this school that's been around since the mid-80s?

It's not separate schools as in, let's put the homos in one and heteros in the other. In fact, heteros are even allowed in Harvey Milk (God knows why they'd want to!).

It is absolutely a temporary solution to give those kids an education instead of writing them off as you're so eager to do.

I am not EAGER to write any suffering teenagers off.

I suppose in a utopian perfect world, no one would be left out in a socially progressive society.

[Asher]

Well, if somebody's up for CLOSING a school that already exists as a temporary solution to the problem, I would certainly say that person is eager to write those suffering teenagers off.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Asher
Well, if somebody's up for CLOSING a school that already exists as a temporary solution to the problem, I would certainly say that person is eager to write those suffering teenagers off.

No, I would not close it -- but I still think it's not a good idea.

eg: I would not send my hypothetical gay child there; instead, I would try to find a school that has a significant gay support group.

[Asher]

If your child was being tormented to the point of being suicidal and dropping out of school, all you'd do is send them to a support group ...?

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Asher
If your child was being tormented to the point of being suicidal and dropping out of school, all you'd do is send them to a support group ...?

First -- if I had sent them to the right school, this would not develop.


Second, let's say I did make a mistake -- time to relocate to a better school environment, counseling sessions, and anything else in addition, to help my "kid" emotionally and socially.

[GePap]

Originally posted by MrFun


No, I would not close it -- but I still think it's not a good idea.

eg: I would not send my hypothetical gay child there; instead, I would try to find a school that has a significant gay support group.

What kind of public school wpould have such a program? After all, isn't having a program to council gay kids giving them speical treatmnet, one not being given to all the other kids!?

Given the general socio-economic status of most of these kids, this solution is not really a viable one.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by GePap


What kind of public school wpould have such a program? After all, isn't having a program to council gay kids giving them speical treatmnet, one not being given to all the other kids!?

Given the general socio-economic status of most of these kids, this solution is not really a viable one.

Would we hire counselors that are openly racist? I think not.

Same goes for not hiring counselors that are either openly homophobic, or whose ignorance ends up doing more damage to gay teenagers.

[GePap]

Originally posted by MrFun


First -- if I had sent them to the right school, this would not develop.


Second, let's say I did make a mistake -- time to relocate to a better school environment, counseling sessions, and anything else in addition, to help my "kid" emotionally and socially.

Do you know what the NYC school system is like? Anbd I seriously doubt that most of these kid's parent's have the money to move out of the city, or send their kids to the type of private schools that might actually do this.

[MrFun]

GePap -- missed my reply to your other post??

[GePap]

Originally posted by MrFun


Would we hire counselors that are openly racist? I think not.

Same goes for not hiring counselors that are either openly homophobic, or whose ignorance ends up doing more damage to gay teenagers.

How many councellors per student do you think regular front line schools are going to have? School councelloers are oevrwhelmed as is: I would add that it porbably would tale speical training for most of them to have a handle as to how to guide and help homosexual and transgendered students, training they are not going to get in the current budget, or any upcoming budgets, as high as per capita student spending my be.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by GePap


How many councellors per student do you think regular front line schools are going to have? School councelloers are oevrwhelmed as is: I would add that it porbably would tale speical training for most of them to have a handle as to how to guide and help homosexual and transgendered students, training they are not going to get in the current budget, or any upcoming budgets, as high as per capita student spending my be.

Which is why this solution would require budgetary increases.

And regards to overwhelmed counselors -- with a budgetary increase, large schools would be able to afford a few more counselors.

[GePap]

The city as is has a 12 billion dollar school budget (wth 1.09 million students, that comes to oevr $10,000 per student). you won;t really get any significant budget increases, and infrastrcuture issue in the 1,200 schools in the system, plus issues with supplies would get priority.

Milk is a tiny fly serving a very small group of very troubled and endangered students: and it is doing a good job at it.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by GePap
The city as is has a 12 billion dollar school budget (wth 1.09 million students, that comes to oevr $10,000 per student). you won;t really get any significant budget increases, and infrastrcuture issue in the 1,200 schools in the system, plus issues with supplies would get priority.

Milk is a tiny fly serving a very small group of very troubled and endangered students: and it is doing a good job at it.

I'm not saying it should be illegal or shut down -- I'm just saying that in principle, separating teenagers on the basis of sexual orientation will not necessarily improve their social outlook in the long run, in spite of some exceptional success stories.

[Ben Kenobi]

We have sports schools, arabic schools, vocational schools, adult-learning schools,

Eh, but that's different.

Everyone has an opportunity to attend these schools, if you are good enough. In fact, I got to attend a 'special' program within the public school I attended although the students had to cover the costs associated with the program.

In this sense none of these programs are segregated.

As for the Arabic schools, are they public or private? Are they restricted to Muslims only and still receive public funding?

Again, I'm not against setting up a haven- if you care so much for these kids to do something now, then raise up the funds for a private school, "for gays only."

Don't try to leech off public funds.